Projects/Usability/HIG/TableView

Purpose

A table (also known as grid or spreadsheet) is a graphical control to present data in an ordered arrangement of rows and columns. The intersection of a row and a column is a cell. The elements of a table may be grouped, segmented, or arranged in many different ways, and even nested recursively. It provides a familiar way to convey information that might otherwise not be obvious or readily understood.

Tables provide inline editing with the advance of a concise layout since no additional control is needed for input. The approach is usually less error-prone because a list with direct input has no dependency to other controls (in contrast to the combination of a list with an edit which needs to be enabled or disabled appropriate to the list entry the user clicks). The drawback is reduced discoverability for lists with restricted editing function, at least when only a few cells can be changed. User does not know which cell is editable and which is not.

Example

Guidelines

Is this the right control

Use a table to arrange data in two dimensions.

Use a table for a concise layout with inline editing feature.

Do not use a table for read only purpose. In this case use a simple list view or a tree view with multiple columns.

Behavior

Switch from viewing mode to edit mode after single click on the editable cell.

Change appearance of cells when switching from viewing to editing. Editable cells have a lowered bevel; they look like they can be filled.

Mark currently changed cells with a red corner.

Define keyboard navigation within the table since the control receives focus as a whole. By pressing arrow-down key the next row is focused; respectively arrow-up for previous row. The arrow-left or arrow-right key navigates to adjacent columns if available. Do not change tab key navigation to allow users to switch to other controls.

Use the appropriate control for constrained input. Show the control’s UI (e.g. arrow for drop-down list) not until the cell is in edit mode.

Distinguish editable cells from those that are read-only.

Allow tables to be extended by users in both directions.

Provide copy/paste feature for single as well as multiple selected cells, if appropriate.

Appearance

Avoid horizontal scrollbars. Size the table to a reasonable width.

Use fixed column header.

Label the table with a descriptive caption to the top left (cf. alignment).